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BIL 330- Ecology Exam 3
Chapters 6, 11, 16, 17, 14, 15, 18, 20
16
Biology
Undergraduate 3
11/18/2018

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Term
Convergent Evolution
Definition
A phenomenon in which two species descended from unrelated ancestors look similar because they have evolved under similar selective forces.
Term
Biomes
Definition
Geographic regions that contain communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations.
Term
Nine Major Terrestrial Biomes
Definition
  1. Tundra
  2. Boreal Forest
  3. Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert
  4. Woodland/Shrubland
  5. Temperate Seasonal Forest
  6. Temperate Rainforest
  7. Tropical Rainforest
  8. Tropical Seasonal Forest/Savanna
  9. Subtropical Desert
Term
Climate Diagrams
Definition
Graphs that plot the average monthly temperature and precipitation of a specific location on Earth.
Term
Growing Season
Definition
The months in a location that are warm enough to allow plant growth.
Term
Tundra
Definition
  • The coldest biome characterized by a treeless expanse above permanently frozen soil, or permafrost.
  • Temperatures lower than 5 degrees C, Less than 600 mm of precipitation
  • Found in the Arctic regions of Russia, Canada, Scandinavia, Alaska, and along the edge of Antartica
Term
Borreal Forest (Taiga)
Definition
  • Densely populated by evergreen needle-leaved trees, with a short growing season and severe winters
  • Temperature below 5 degrees C, Precipitation between 40 and 1000 mm
  • Found in a broad belt 50 degrees N in North America and 60 degrees N in Europe and Asia 
Term
Temperate Rainforest
Definition
  • Mild temperatures and abundant precipitation and is dominated by evergreen forests
  • Found near the pacific coast in northwestern North America, Southern Chile, New Zealand, and Tasmania.
Term
Temperate Seasonal Forest
Definition
  • Moderate temperature and precipitation conditions and is dominated by deciduous trees (Maple, Beech, Oak)
  • Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Europe, and Eastern Asia
Term
Woodland/Shrubland
Definition
  • Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with drought tolerant grasses and shrubs
  • Found around the Mediterranean Sea "Mediterranean Climate"
  • Called Chaparral in southern California, matorral in southern South America, fynbos in southern Africa, and maquis in the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea
Term
Sclerophyllous
Definition
Small durable leaves of typical Mediterranean-climate plants, "hard-leaved" vegetation
Term
Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert
Definition
  • Hot, dry summers, cold, harsh winters, dominated by grasses, nonwoody flowering plants, and drought-adapted shrubs.
  • Called prairies in North America, pampas in South America, and steppes in eastern Europe and central Asia.
Term
Tropical Rainforests
Definition
  • Warm and rainy, characterized by multiple layers of lush vegetation
  • Located within 20 degrees N and 20 degrees S of the equator
  • Found in much of Central America, the Amazon basin, the Congo in southern West Africa, eastern side of Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and the northeast coast of Australia.
Term
Understory
Definition
Shorter trees and shrubs below the canopy
Term
Tropical Seasonal Forests/Savanna
Definition
  • Warm temperatures and pronounced wet and dry seasons.
  • Sometimes called Tropical Deciduous Forest
  • Located mostly beyond 10 degrees N and 10 degrees S of the equator
  • Very long dry season results in Savanna
  • Found in Central America, Atlantic coast of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, and Northwestern Australia
Term
Subtropical Deserts
Definition
  • Hot temperatures, scarce rainfall, long growing seasons, and sparse vegetation.
  • 20 to 30 degrees north and south of the equator
  • Mojave Desert in North America, the Sahara Desert in Africa, the Arabian Desert in Middle East, and the Great Victoria Desert in Australia
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